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Science 16 September 1983:
Vol. 221. no. 4616, pp. 1187 - 1189
DOI: 10.1126/science.6612333
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Articles

Science, Vol 221, Issue 4616, 1187-1189
Copyright © 1983 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Functional alpha 1-protease inhibitor in the lower respiratory tract of cigarette smokers is not decreased

PJ Stone, JD Calore, SE McGowan, J Bernardo, GL Snider, and C Franzblau

Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor for the development of pulmonary emphysema, a disorder that may result from an imbalance between the elastase and antielastase levels in the lungs. Decreased functional alpha 1-protease inhibitor, an inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, might render smokers susceptible to elastase-catalyzed destruction of pulmonary elastic fibers and the development of emphysema. Binding and inactivation of isotopically labeled porcine pancreatic elastase and human neutrophil elastase by alpha 1-protease inhibitor were measured in fluid obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of volunteers. The inhibition of elastase-catalyzed solubilization of elastin and a tripeptide substrate were also determined. The mean level of functional alpha 1-protease inhibitor in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of smokers was found to be equal to or greater than that of nonsmokers, contradicting reports by other investigators. Increased elastase derived from pulmonary neutrophils, rather than decreased functional alpha 1-protease inhibitor, appears to be the main factor in the genesis of emphysema in smokers.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression and Production by Alveolar Macrophages in Emphysema.
G. A. FINLAY, L. R. O'DRISCOLL, K. J. RUSSELL, E. M. D'ARCY, J. B. MASTERSON, M. X. FITZGERALD, and C. M. O'CONNOR (1997)
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 156, 240-247
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Antitrypsin and Emphysema: Perspective and Prospects.
J. A. Pierce (1988)
JAMA 259, 2890-2895
   Abstract »    PDF »
Elastase Activity in Cigarette Smokers.
R. T. ABBOUD and T. T. FERA (1988)
Ann Intern Med 108, 486-487
   Abstract »    PDF »
Increased Neutrophil Elastase Activity in Cigarette Smokers.
J. I. WEITZ, K. A. CROWLEY, S. L LANDMAN, B. I. LIPMAN, and J. YU (1987)
Ann Intern Med 107, 680-682
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Protease Theory of Emphysema.
M. D. WEWERS and J. E. GADEK (1987)
Ann Intern Med 107, 761-763
   Abstract »    PDF »
In Reply: Is agr1-Protease Inhibitor Inactivated by Smoking?.
P. J. STONE (1984)
Science 224, 756
   PDF »


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